Building regulations for extensions in Exeter
Need building regulations for extensions in Exeter? We survey the house, prepare what the council needs and deal with the officers until a decision is made.
- Guide price in ExeterFrom £900 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsEX1, EX2, EX3, EX4, EX5
Covering Exeter
Across EX1, EX2, EX3, EX4, EX5, EX6, we can visit, measure and advise. The same team covers Exmouth (9 miles), Tiverton (12 miles), Newton Abbot (14 miles), Torquay (18 miles), all within easy reach.
For homes towards Somerset, Taunton is around 27 miles away. In the South West, local stone, render and brick vary from town to town, so matching materials is a big part of designing an extension that looks right.
Who this service is for
- Glass-heavy designs that need energy calculations
- Every extension, whatever the planning route
- Homeowners using their own builder who need the drawings
Design and approval fees for Exeter
Fees below are our Exeter guide (×1.02, the South West England factor), including VAT. Council and building control fees are extra.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Building regulations drawings for a simple single-storey extension | £900 – £1,850 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,300 – £2,700 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,200 – £3,900 |
Our design fee only. Building control charges are set by your council (or, in England and Wales, a registered building control approver) and quoted separately.
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
Planning rules that apply in Exeter
Building regulations approval is separate from planning. In England you can use the council's building control team or a registered building control approver; a full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, and the inspector signs the work off with a completion certificate.
Homes in conservation areas, national parks, National Landscapes (formerly AONBs), the Broads and World Heritage Sites have tighter rules, so we always check the property's status and planning history before design starts.
If the work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 m (sometimes 6 m) of a neighbour's building, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notice must be served before work starts: two months for work to a party wall, one month for new walls on the boundary and for excavations.
Building over or within 3 m of a public sewer needs the water company's consent, usually through a build-over agreement, before the foundations go in.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
How the project works
Site visits are free and there is no obligation. Where drawings are needed, the design stage is priced in writing before it starts.
Free site visit
A designer visits, takes measurements and photos, and discusses layouts, budget and timing with you.
Design and approvals
We produce the drawings and structural design, and manage the approvals so they are in place before work starts.
Fixed written price
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
Work is carried out to the agreed programme, inspected by building control and signed off at the end.
Common questions in Exeter
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Exeter, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Do I need building regulations approval in Exeter?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Who do I contract with in Exeter?
Your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd, which designs and manages the project and the build teams who carry it out.
Full plans or building notice?
A full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, which we usually recommend for extensions. A building notice is quicker to submit but carries more risk if something needs changing on site.
Who are building control?
Either your local council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Both inspect the work and issue the completion certificate.
Book a free site visit in Exeter
We will measure up, check the planning position and give you honest guide figures.
- Free, no-obligation site visit
- Planning route checked before you spend on drawings
- Written price once the design is agreed
- Building control sign-off at the end
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6341 or .
Book a free site visit
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.